Calendly, Square Appointments and Acuity Scheduling are the three booking tools Canadian tutors, music teachers, coaches and personal trainers compare most often. All three give clients a link to pick a time; they differ on whether you can take payment at booking, how many session types you can offer for free, and whether you pay in CAD or USD. Prices are from each pricing page on October 7, 2026.
This builds on starting online tutoring, in-person tutoring, and personal training. Gear for online sessions is in online tutoring gear.
How do Calendly, Square Appointments and Acuity compare?
Calendly is the simplest scheduler, Square Appointments bundles card payments in CAD, and Acuity has the most tutor-friendly extras such as packages and intake forms.
| Option | Best for | Pricing | In Canada | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendly | Tutors who just need clients to pick a time | Free (1 event type, 1 calendar); Standard $10/seat/mo billed yearly; Teams $16 (source) | Available in USD only, per its pricing page |
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| Square Appointments | Tutors and trainers who want booking plus card payments in CAD | Free $0 (one location); Plus $35/mo; Premium $85/mo (source) | Canadian pricing; Square's Canadian card rates (2.5% in person, 2.8% + 30¢ online) |
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| Acuity Scheduling | Tutors who sell packages, use intake forms and take prepayment | Starter $16/mo yearly ($20 monthly); Standard $27 ($34); Premium $49 ($61) (source) | Prices in USD, excluding taxes |
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Prices and features from each company's own pages, checked October 7, 2026. They change often; confirm on the official site before you buy.
Which booking tool is cheapest for a Canadian tutor?
Calendly Free and Square Appointments Free both cost $0; the difference is that Square’s plan lets clients pay by card at booking (you pay Square’s processing fee), while Calendly’s free plan schedules but does not collect payment. Acuity starts at $16 USD a month on yearly billing.
Illustrative example
Assumed numbers, not a quote: a tutor charges $50 a session, collected online at booking through Square, for 30 sessions a month.
- Fee per session at 2.8% + $0.30: $50 × 2.8% + $0.30 = $1.70.
- Monthly fees: 30 × $1.70 = $51.00.
- Collecting by Interac e-Transfer instead avoids card fees but takes more admin.
The session price and volume are assumptions for the arithmetic; check Square’s live rates.
Who should pick Calendly, Square Appointments or Acuity?
| If you… | Lean toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Offer one type of session and take e-Transfers | Calendly Free | $0 and simple |
| Want card payment at booking in CAD | Square Appointments | Free plan with payments built in |
| Sell 10-lesson packages and need intake forms | Acuity Scheduling | Intake forms, prepayment, and packages on Standard |
| Teach students across time zones | Acuity or Calendly | Automatic time-zone handling |
| Teach mostly in person at the client’s home | Square Appointments | Pairs with a card reader |
What mistakes do tutors make with booking tools?
- No cancellation policy in the booking page. Put your 24-hour rule where clients agree to it.
- Taking card payments without pricing in fees. Build the fee into the rate or use e-Transfer.
- Too many session types. Start with one or two.
- Forgetting buffers. Add travel or reset time between sessions.
- Sharing a personal calendar. Connect a separate calendar for tutoring.
Which tax rules apply to tutoring income and booking tools?
Tutoring income is generally business income on Form T2125, and booking software and processing fees are deductible business expenses. Some tutoring and educational services have specific GST/HST treatment; see GST/HST registration and confirm your situation. This is not tax advice.
Which guides sit next to this comparison?
Read online tutoring pricing, your first online tutoring client and teaching English online. Home-service operators should compare Jobber vs Housecall Pro vs Square Appointments.
What are the common questions?
Is Calendly free for tutors?
Calendly's Free plan, listed on October 7, 2026, includes one event type, one calendar connection, one-on-one scheduling and a customizable booking page. Payments through Stripe or PayPal and reminders come with paid plans, which are billed in USD.
Can Square Appointments take payment when a student books?
Yes. Square Appointments works with Square payments, and its Canadian pricing page lists a Free plan for a single location. Square charges its standard Canadian processing fees, such as 2.8% + 30 cents for online payments.
How much does Acuity Scheduling cost?
Acuity's pricing page listed Starter at $16 USD a month billed yearly or $20 monthly, Standard at $27 or $34, and Premium at $49 or $61 on October 7, 2026, with a 7-day free trial.
Which booking tool is best for in-person tutoring?
Square Appointments suits in-person lessons because it pairs with a Square card reader and has a free plan in CAD. Calendly or Acuity work well if students mostly pay by e-Transfer or prepay online.
Are booking app fees tax deductible?
Software and payment processing fees used for your tutoring business are generally deductible on Form T2125. This is general information, not tax advice.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- Calendly pricing — Calendly
- Square Appointments pricing (Canada) — Square
- Acuity Scheduling pricing — Acuity Scheduling (Squarespace)
- Square fees in Canada — Square